Manildra hires v.p. of R.&D. and technical services

SHAWNEE MISSION, KAS. — Clodualdo “Ody” Maningat, Ph.D., has joined the Manildra Group as vice-president of research and development and technical services. In his new position, Dr. Maningat will be responsible for the commercialization and technical services associated with the company’s existing and newly developed specialty wheat starches and proteins.

“Dr. Maningat’s 27 years of experience in wheat based technology will enhance Manildra’s brand and innovations,” said Neal Bassi, president of Manildra.

Prior to joining Manildra, Dr. Maningat was the vice-president of applications technology and technical services at MGP Ingredients, Inc., Atchison, Kas., where he played a key role in developing and commercializing specialty wheat starch and wheat protein ingredients for applications in food and industrial products.

He currently serves as adjunct faculty member in the Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University in Manhattan, where he presents seminars on occasion and serves on the advisory committee of graduate students. He is a current member and former chair of the advisory board of the Food Processing Center of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He has authored or co-authored 31 journal articles and book chapters and holds 38 patents on grain-based technologies, and he continues to conduct peer reviews of journal manuscripts. His research and business interests include chemistry, modification and functionality of starches and proteins, analysis and function of dietary fibers, value-addition concepts, technology of RS4-type resistant starch, physiological benefits of grain-derived ingredients, and commercial applications of specialty starch, protein and fiber ingredients. He has been engaged in various research alliances with scientists and product developers in the food industry, government and academia.

Dr. Maningat is a professional member of the American Association of Cereal Chemists International (AACCI), the Institute of Food Technologists, the American Society of Baking, and the American Chemical Society. With the AACCI, he has been active as a speaker, division chair, symposia chair, co-author of posters, and table-top exhibitor. He currently is a voting member of the Dietary Fiber and Other Carbohydrates Technical Committee, and was chair of the Carbohydrate Division and the Alsberg-French-Schoch Award Committee. He served as technical program chair and chair of the Executive Committee of the Starch Round Table, an organization closely affiliated with the AACCI.

Dr. Maningat received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Adamson University (Manila, Philippines), a master’s degree in agricultural chemistry from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (Laguna, Philippines), and a doctorate in grain science from Kansas State University. He received the Majel A. MacMasters Memorial Achievement Award as a graduate student and the Outstanding Alumni Award, both from the Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, and the Outstanding Award in Science from his hometown of Balayan, Batangas in the Philippines.

“I am truly excited and privileged to work for the Manildra Group in developing and commercializing new, specialty wheat-based ingredients and to support the efforts of the U.S. operations in growing and expanding the business in multiple markets around the world,” Dr. Maningat said.